Joe - Friday 30th June 1916

Dear Mother,

I received your card also a parcel from Janey, one from Sarah and one with a pineapple from Jess and two apples, but I've not received the one you sent from Coopers with the tin of butter in.  We are still out of the trenches and I think a good distance from Billie.  I got a number of cards from home and from Jess and John and Billie and John for my birthday.  I expect you had a good time at Liverpool it would be a nice change for you.  You needn't send any more paper and envelopes at present.  If you are still able to send parcels (if not stopped) you might send another tin of health salts, as they make a good drink, but you need not send tins of butter we get them pretty regular.  Well I've no more news so must close. 

Hoping this finds all at Home well. 

Your loving son Joe. 

Billie - Monday 26th June 1916

Dear Jess,

Very many thanks for Sarah's parcel which I received in splendid condition a few days ago. 

You will be pleased to know we are out of the trenches and these last few days we've had a grand time and the weather has been great - scorching hot - and have practically nothing to do and no parades, we have quite enjoyed it.  We moved up here - just behind the line two days ago. 

I was very pleased to hear Mater was still down with you and having a good time of it.  Tell her to stay a week or two longer as I will not be home on leave for a week or two yet at least, but I will let you know as soon as I know for certain.  I was very pleased to hear Joe is out of the line and I bet he was pleased to get out of that little lot.  Glad to hear Janey is keeping better, also Sarah - she is not half doing some moving and by all accounts is doing jolly well.  I suppose Pater will still be working as hard as ever, and must be feeling ready for a decent holiday.  I had a letter from our John a few weeks ago, he is having to work a bit harder, but he cannot grumble as he had a good spell of nothing to do much. 

Oh the football team was invited to a dinner by the Colonel and officers of the Headquarters and we had a fine time of it.  We also had our photos taken, but we could not get our togs to be taken in them.  However we had the cup and that was the chief thing.  Oh Mr Hoskins was asking after our John, and said I had to tell him he was a long time in writing. 

Well I think this is all at present so must close hoping all are well and with kindest regards to all at Woodside &c. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Billie - Saturday 24th June 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for letter also for parcel containing the money.  Also thank Aunt and Jennie for their share and thank Sarah for the parcel she sent from Liverpool which I received in splendid condition. 

We moved from our little town yesterday, and came nearer the line and I should think we'll be here 5 or 6 days.  The weather is dead rotten pouring with rain.  I hope it will soon take up.  You will no doubt be surprised to hear I'm in charge of a gun team now - what! what!  We were all very sorry to leave the place we were in resting, as the people were very good to us, and when we were coming away yesterday, they were all up to see us off, although we moved pretty early and nearly all were weeping as they think such a lot of us there. 

I was very pleased to hear Joe is, or was, out of the trenches again, but I suppose they are on the same game as we are.  They have sent another 2 on leave and another chap has gone sick so I'm 5th, so after this little lot I should come straight away, if they keep on with them. 

Well I think this is all the news up to the present so must close.  Cheer oh, and do not worry I will let you know how we are going on but of course there may be no post while this little lot is going on, so do not worry about me if you get no letter.  At any rate I will try and send Field cards to let you know how I'm going on.  Hoping all are well at home as this leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Joe - Saturday 24th June 1916

Dear Janey,

I received your letter and I'm pleased to hear all are well at Home.  I got a parcel from Liverpool, Jess sent it for Sarah.  I've sent Jess a field card today telling her.  Jess sent me some tobacco, but I broke my pipe so I just smoke cigarettes now.  We have been having warmer weather lately a bit more like Summer.  I expect Thompson and you had a nice time at Eskdale, it will be all right there at this time of the year.  I expect you got my other letters.  You will see we've been kept busy.  John is having to work hard now, he will find a change.  What part of the line is Billie at?  I think you said he was back in the trenches.  John was telling me that Jack Shardlow is in hospital with enteric fever; he has been unlucky in some ways.  Sarah has had some travelling about Scotland, it will be all right in fine weather.  I've plenty of notepaper and envelopes so don't send any for a bit or it will get wasted - keeping it.  Well I have no more news at present so must close.  Hoping this finds you all well at Home. 

With love to all Joe. 

Billie - Sunday 18th June 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for the letter received a few days ago.  Pleased to say we are still out of the line and having a fairly decent time, although we are having to work jolly hard and do not get much time to ourselves.  However what little we do get we make the most of.  You would be surprised to hear our leaves were stopped on account of leaving the trenches dirty, and mind you we had working parties cleaning them the whole time we were in, and it poured with rain the whole blessed time, and then they stop your leaves, it gives you a lot of encouragement does it not?  However I suppose they will start in a few days again, at least we hope so. 

There are great preparations now for the big move and the time cannot be far distant, and I feel sure if it is at all successful it will be the beginning of the end.  The weather now is glorious again and is quite a treat.  This is a decent place - a little town and the people treat us jolly well.  The only thing is money is scarce, so please send me some more as soon as possible as we cannot draw any for a few weeks here. 

I was very pleased to hear from Sarah's letter that Joe was once more out of the line, and I only hope that he is kept out for some time.  You might kindly thank Billie for her letter and photo which we all think is a treat.  We have had two jolly fine dinners just opposite our billet - quite a treat - talk about enjoying it.  I think this is all the news, hoping all are well as this leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Oh enclosed is a dark red rose and a pansy given me by one of the girls here.  We do get on all right here.  What! 

Joe - Sunday 18th June 1916

Dear Jess,

I received parcel and thanks for same.  The tomatoes were squashed and one or two were the week before.  I sent the card that Coopers enclosed and the same the parcel was damaged some of the envelopes were spoilt as well.  I wrote to Janey yesterday so she will be sending my letter on. 

20th June 1916

Well we are on the move again further to the south of France.  We are a good distance on the right of where Billie will be.  We have had rather warmed weather lately, but it is not like Summer.  We are in a fairly decent sized place, billeted in empty houses. 

It seems rather queer that John should be relieved by an officer of the same name, or pretty nearly the same.  I was pleased to hear Mother was still at Liverpool having a good time; the change will do her good.  I received the cards Mother sent.  Syd seems to have had a good time on leave, he would have liked to have seen you all.  John seems to be kept busy.  I heard that women were going to start working at Lowca on shells. 

It was sad about Bob Skinner and Alec Johnson.  I thought Bob would have pulled through all right although I think his wound was more serious than at first thought. 

We might not be able to get our letters away for a day or two as we are on the move.  Well I must close with love to all.  Hoping this finds you all well. 

I remain, Your loving brother Joe. 

Joe - Saturday 17th June 1916

Dear Janey,

I received your letter all right and am pleased to hear all are well.  We are on the move farther down the line.  We've had two days' marching and we aren't finished yet.  I got Sarah's parcel also the one from Liverpool but I've only had time to send a field card so far to Sarah and Jess.  Syd has landed back and seems to have had a good time.  I've broken my watch glass already.  I was pressing the cover down, it used to spring up, and I just pressed it into position and it broke the glass so if you can get the right sized glass and a new protector you might send them on, my watch is an Ingersoll Midget.  If you can't get one I'll get one out here.  Wilson Grahame wishes to be remembered to you.  I had a letter from Billie and the photo is splendid.  I can't put Billie Nixon now, so don't think it is our Billie.  You had better tell Billie to change her name. 

I was surprised to hear Ralph Turner is heading out for the front already, although troops do nt get much training now.  We are having moderate weather, too cold for June and plenty of rain and we've had extra hard training, in fact it was inhuman the way we've been dogged about all weathers; the men were absolutely walked to a standstill, even some of our officers said it was too much for the men, but some Generals have no feeling, they just think about themselves.  You talk about economy, why we have wasted pounds of corn, trampled through fields of it for miles.  English farmers would go wild if it happened on their farms.  You can't very well manoeuvre out here without going over crops, but it does seem a shame and there is often quite a lot wasted that could be prevented. 

Well I've no more news at present.  I had a letter from Sarah today.  Hoping this finds you all quite well at home. 

With love to all.  I remain your loving brother Joe. 

Billie - Thursday 15th June 1916

Dear John and Jess,

Very many thanks for lovely parcel received a few days ago.  Everything arrived in splendid condition except the tomatoes and someone had taken the trouble to stand on them so they were rather squashed, but we cannot help these things can we? 

You will no doubt know we have been in the trenches again, and a jolly rotten time we had as it poured with rain the whole time so you may guess we were in a nice state when we came out.  Well you will be pleased to know we are out now, and a few miles behind the line and up to the present we are having a decent time of it and only hope we are here sometime.  The people here are quite decent and will do almost anything for us.  I'm sitting in a house now using their ink and yesterday we had divisional colours given to us to sew on both sleeves so we got some of the girls to sew them on, and they quite enjoyed the fun of it. 

I had quite a nice parcel from Sarah yesterday containing sweets and fags and the fags were handy as we were just clean out.  I can just imagine I see John escorting Pater round St John's Market, I bet he would have a time.  You will no doubt be surprised to hear all our leaves are stopped, but think it is only on account of moving, as we have changed into another Brigade and we are now in the 11th Brigade of the 4th Division, but when writing just put 8th Warwicks B.E.F.  I will let you know if the leaves start again and when I think I'll be coming. 

Well I think this is all the news, so must close.  Hoping all are well, as it leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Billie - Thursday 15th June 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for letter received a few days ago.  You will no doubt be pleased to know we are once more out of the trenches and back behind the line again for a rest, or should I say training.  You will also be surprised to hear out Battalion is no longer in the Warwicks Brigade as we have been transferred to the 11th Brigade.  We were inspected by the General yesterday and he told us it was a position of honour as this Brigade is commonly known as the "Stone Wallers" and had never lost a trench, and it was this Brigade that carried out the retreat from Mons.  He also told us we were given a position of honour in the great advance that will come off shortly around here and he felt sure we would uphold the Brigade that we are now in.  So in future do not put any address except the 8th Warwick or else we shall not get any letter &c.  Do not put any Division as we are moved from the 48th to the 4th.  This is what comes of being mentioned in despatches.  I thought I'd let you know all particulars but you need not tell Mater about it. 

You will be sorry to hear our leaves are stopped but I think this is only while we are being changed into the new division at least I hope so, and then I shall not be long until I'm home.  Kindly thank Mater for parcel received a few days ago, also thank Jess and John for their lovely parcel and Sarah for her jolly fine parcel received yesterday.  The weather these last few days has been awful; talk about rain, it has been more like Winter.  I was very pleased to hear Mother and Father had such a nice time in Liverpool and feel sure the change will have done Mother a lot of good.  I am writing this in a French house and they are quite decent people and will do anything for us.  We have been issued with blue ribbons' for our shoulders, the division colours, and we got the girls here to sew ours on for us.  Oh the General told us if anyone asked us which Division we were in we had to hit ourselves on the chest and say "11th Brigade of the 4th Division".  Our John knows who they are, so you will see we are Some Battalion now.  I wonder what Joe will say to this!  Well I've no more news hoping you are well as this leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Joe - Sunday 11th June 1916

Dear Janey,

I received your letter and thanks for same.  We lost a good number of men this last time in the trenches but Syd would give you all the news.  We are having a hard time of it out of the trenches this time - we are on the go from morning till night.  We had not been three days out of the trenches till we were hard at it. 

I had a letter from John.  Pleased to hear Thompson has got exemption until September, there might be  possible chance of war being over.  I've just written to Jess.  You might tell Mother I wouldn't mind a roasted cock chicken in my next parcel.  Well I've no more news at present so must close.  With love to all. 

Hoping all are well Joe. 

Joe - Sunday 11th June 1916

Dear Jessie,

I received your parcel all right and thanks for same.  I am sorry I have not answered before, but I really have not had the time as we are kept hard at training from morning until night.  I expect Mother and Father have a nice time in Liverpool.  You wouldn't see Syd, he will be back anytime now. 

You would be sorry to hear about Bob Skinner and Alec Johnson being killed; Whitehaven has been hit hard lately.  I had a letter from John yesterday; he thinks he may be a month or two yet in England.  We are having very changeable weather, plenty of rain and we've been out route marching and training rain or fine.  I think Billie is having a better time on his rest than we are, I'd just as soon be in the trenches. 

I wrote to Jennie and May and enclosed a pansy in each, but it appears Jennie hasn't got hers and I sent it off first.  I am pleased to her that Thompson has got exemption till September.  I suppose John is as busy as ever, he does not seem to get much time to himself.  The photograph is a very good one.  I've just received the paper from Jennie and she has received my letter.  Well I must close, remember me to John. 

I remain your affectionate brother Joe. 

Billie - Thursday 8th June 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for letter also thank Mater for her parcel received in splendid condition three days ago.  You will no doubt be surprised to hear we are back in the line again, but only for a few days, but we are having it pretty rough what with the weather being so bad and practically no rations so you may bet we will not be sorry when we are out of this again, and back behind somewhere training again. 

I was very pleased to hear Mater was down at Liverpool, also that Father had managed to get a few days in Liverpool so I am sure the change will do him good after the way he is having to work.  I was pleased to hear Sarah was getting on all right, and I feel sure she will do well at her new work.  I cannot tell you how pleased I was to hear Thompson had got an extension so it will give you more time to get used to the business and you might be feeling much better by that time, as least I hope so. 

I had a letter from John tonight and he seems to be in the pink and still having a good time of it.  You say in your letter that he expects to come out again this week, but in his letter he says he will be a few weeks, and I only hope he is right as I will be able to see him before he goes out.  I was pleased to hear Syd was down on leave as he would be able to give you all particulars regarding Joe. 

I had a letter from Miller and he says they are in a very rough part of the line, but thinks they will be out of it by now; he also says what a fine big chap Joe is making so he cannot be taking much harm and this life must suit him.  Well you will no doubt be wondering when I am coming on leave, and as near as I can tell you, it will be in about three weeks, as they only seem to send two a week; but they may increase any time.  However I will let you know as soon as I know definitely. 

Well I think this is all the news up to the present, hoping Thompson and yourself are well, also Sarah and all at Liverpool as this leaves me in the pink.  I was very sorry to hear Alex Johnson had gone under and it must be a terrible shock to his people.  Sorry to hear Mater had not been so well, and hoping to hear she is better.  Kindly remember me to Mr Ray.  Oh you might ask Mater to send me some more money as I'm short and we're not getting any for a few weeks, also some Harrison's pomade and some leather bootlaces and a pair of shorter socks.  Cheer oh, hope to see you soon. 

Love to all Billie. 

Billie - Saturday 3rd June 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for the letter received last week also for the ripping parcel which we quite enjoyed. 

You will no doubt be wondering why I have not written just lately, but the fact of the matter is, we have been on the move, and have tramped miles all over the place and have finished up just behind the line again.  We have been here 2 or 3 days now and have had to do a lot of heavy digging all night up in the line and carry on our day parades &c as usual so you will see we have caught it pretty rough.  We go in the line again in 2 days time and then after that spell, we move back again for training.  You see they have so many troops out here now that they can give us spells out now. 

The weather up to last night has been glorious, almost too hot, but changed last night with a lot of rain and very cold.  You would no doubt see in the papers that our Regiment, in fact our Battalion has been mentioned in despatches for good work during the Winter, so we are coming on "What"! 

I was very pleased to hear Thompson has appealed and I feel sure they must give him a month or two, to get you in the way of things.  Oh before I forget you might tell Mater to send me some writing paper and a pair of thinner socks than usual as the thick ones are too heavy now the weather in warm.  \I suppose Mater is having a decent time at Liverpool, and I feel sure the change will do her good, besides being good company for Jess.  You will hardly know what to do with yourself. 

Well you will be, pleased to know I am 9th on the leave list so I.should not be long now.  How are you all keeping now?  I suppose Father is still working as hard as ever, and will no doubt feel ready for a rest, a good holiday is what would do him good.  I am glad to know that you are feeling better also that Thompson and his Pater are well.  Kindly thank Jess for her photo, I think it's splendid; also thank my cousins for their photos.  I've not had one from John yet. 

Is Joe out of the line again?  I suppose he will be as they seem too be working at the same rate as we are all along the line.  Well I think this is all the news up to the present.  I wrote to Sarah this morning so I hope she receives it.  Well I think this is all the news, hoping all are well as this leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Joe - Saturday 3rd June 1916

Dear Janey,

I received letter and parcel all right and thanks for same.  I should have written earlier but I sent you a field card. 

Well we have moved back again for another rest, we are very lucky, although I must admit the place where we were was a bit rough.  We re having splendid weather and the village we are in is not a bad place.  You might just add "A" Company on my letters as we are back with our Companies.  Thompson will likely soon be called up.  Well, I think we wont have much longer to wait for peace. 

Syd Park will be home on leave now, I gave him my watch, it wants the pointers doing up with that illumination stuff.  I see there has been a big naval battle, it has been expected a long while now.  You might send me one of those small writing pads please that is if you have not sent one in the parcel.  John will not have much longer in England, he has had a nice stay.  I had a letter from Billie he is going on all right.  Well I must close.  With best love to all, hoping this finds all well at Home. 

I remain, your loving brother Joe. 

Billie - Thursday 1st June 1916

Dear Mater and Jess,

Very many thanks for letter and parcels received during the last few days.  I was very pleased to hear Mother is down staying with you for a time, as I'm sure the change will do her good. 

Well we are out of the trenches, but doing a lot of marching and yesterday we marched nearer the line and bivouacked out all night and today we go a little nearer to do some digging, but with a bit of luck we shall go right back again in a few days.  You will be pleased to hear we won the football cup with 17 goals for and none against us.  The officers gave us a fine time.  The weather is glorious, it is too hot for words when we are on the march.  However, lately we have got over the worst of the marching before dinner so it has been much better. 

I was pleased to hear that Janey and all at home are well and hope it will not be long before I am home to see you.  Kindly remember me to John and all at Woodside, also thank Janey for her lovely parcel and Thompson for the fags and chocolate.  I wrote to Joe the other day.  I was sorry to hear he is having such a rough time.  I hope it will not be long before they move from that quarter.  Oh if you like Jess, you can send me the New Magazine monthly instead of a weekly paper.  Sarah seems to be having a busy time but I should think she enjoys that sort of work.  I must write to her as soon as I've time. 

Well I think this is all the news so must close.  Hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink.  Cheer oh. 

Your loving brother Billie.